Avoid Sports Overuse Injuries

It used to be that high school athletes would play several sports, waiting to specialize in one until they reached college. The trend today is for high school athletes – and younger competitors – to complete in one sport year-round. Because of the repetition involved, overuse injuries are on the rise. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that high school athletes suffer 2 million injuries a year, accounting for half a million doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations.

True Strength Moment: If you notice your kids, teammates or yourself favoring one side of the body, experiencing pain when using a certain body part or suffering frequent headaches, an overuse injury may be the issue. These injuries don't happen all of a sudden. They result from damage incurred over time. To avoid them, cross train using exercises that aren't specific to your sport, and take time off to recuperate post-season.